Polanco wants no part of DL, has sights set on Tuesday; Brown sits again

Posted by Mandy Housenick | August 26, 2012 at 01:29 PM

It seems as though the idea of putting Placido Polanco on the disabled list has been tabled.

Manager Charlie Manuel said before Saturday's game that having his third baseman return to the DL wasn't out of the question, but Polanco told me before Sunday afternoon's game that he expects to start Tuesday's game (the Phils are off Monday).

"I can do that," he said. "And I told Charlie that."

Since coming off the DL on Monday, Polanco started Monday and Wednesday's games and pinch hit Tuesday and Thursday. But he has not played since.

DOM BROWN OUT AGAIN

For the second day in a row, Dom Brown is out of the starting lineup.

The outfielder is nursing a sore knee, but the good news is it's not the same knee as the one he hurt while he was with Triple-A Lehigh Valley earlier this season.

Brown said he thinks he has a bruise on his left knee. It was the right knee that he sprained with the IronPigs that kept him out for about three weeks.

"It's not that feeling, for sure," Brown said when asked if his left knee was bothering him as much as his right one had been.

Brown said he was feeling good enough to be in the starting lineup today, but Manuel opted to sit him one more day. Brown did pinch hit Saturday night. Laynce Nix is starting in right field today.

DINGERS: Today ends a stretch of 17 games in 17 days. ... The Phils have won five of their last six against the Nats after losing nine of their first 10 against them this year. In those last six games, the Phillies are outscoring the Nationals 23-10 and the pitching staff has posted a 1.19 ERA ( 7 ER, 53.0 IP). ... The Phils are trying for the sweep today, but they are 8-13 on Sundays this year.